Not going to fight rats in the cellar."

“I suppose I could go inventory the cellar and see what we need before the mass pilgrimage you are praying for falls upon us but if there is rats down there I am calling it a day.” I jested. It seemed like the way my day was going for odd jobs. Last thing I wanted to do was spend my day slaying rats in the cellar of the tavern. If something needed killing that was Jon's department.

“Well if you are volunteering I am not going to complain. My knees hate those stairs.” My uncle gripped as he reached under the table and grabbed the book. The stairs were more like a ladder then stairs as to not take up much room but it made the trek up and down a bit tiring.

“Best I do it anyways. You always miss something in your old age, Gareth always under orders trying to save money, and Jon will just guess.” I replied. Gareth I could understand as he was the most practical of the whole bunch and didn't like to waste money if he didn't have to. My uncle was good at dealing with people but not so much with money which is a good thing our aunt could. Jon had a decent head for making coin but was to carefree spending money sometimes as quick as he made it.

“Just for that smart ass it is your job from now till eternity. I will even find a necromancer to resurrect you and have you work down there even after I kill you.” My uncle threw me a smirk and slid the book at me.

“And who is going to write the notice to hire that necromancer? I have seen your hand writing. “You would more likely summoning an imp with that chicken scratch of yours then posting a job listing.” I replied and took the ledger.

“Well if the imp can do the job any better I will hire him. They would be less trouble. Go count stuff and bring up any cask we are short on up here.” My uncle said. I quickly counted what was behind the bar. My uncle had kept things in the same place for as long as his own father ran the place so it could be found in a hurry. It worked for him so he never saw a need to change it. I even lifted the cask he had on the counter to see how heavy they were to either count them as full, half, or almost empty. Even if they had a little bit left in it that would be gone by tonight so no point in counting it.

I went into the back to in the kitchen looking for any **** in the kitchen as the room sometimes got used as extra storage or my aunt might use some in a recipe. I saw Gabrielle in the common room which served as everything from a dining room, to the ladies sewing room, or Jon's place to make arrows. She was leaning over the big table sewing deer pelts together with a deer bone needle and thick deer sinew. Hardly nothing of the deer that Jon killed went to waste. Even the deer fat or tallow was used to make soap and candles for the tavern. I couldn't help but notice my cousin Gabriella showing off a little bit of cleavage of her milky white breasts wondering how she had not yet married. “Repair or replace?” I said snapping myself back to reality as I watched her work before going back to searching the kitchen.

“Making a new one actually. Jon has enough deer pelts for a few more mattresses and a few of ours are getting old.” She glanced up at me and smiled warmly. Generally deer skins from hunts went to the tavern but any other furs or hides Jon kept for himself and sold at a tidy profit. Now that it was spring they were not quit worth as much as they were in winter meaning he would have to take them to Laketon to get his moneys worth. A long trip but worth it if he had enough of them saved up he could make it worth his time.

“I could use an old one as a double mattress if its not to bad.” I teased. Sleeping on two mattresses sounded nice.

“Depends on how nice you are to me.” Gabby gave a playful smile and glanced up at me as she bit her tongue. “Ouch.” Gabrielle said as she stuck her finger to her mouth.

“What you do?” I grinned at her as I walked into the common room.

“Stabbed myself when you distracted me.” Gabby pulled her finger out of her mouth and looked at it having left a pretty deep mark as it had gone in more sideways through the flesh then straight down.

“I know you like to put yourself into your work but that might be a little to literal cousin.” I teased and she swatted at me with her other hand ad sucked on her finger some more.

She shook her head at me. “Smart arse. I should sow your mouth shut.”

“Let me see it.” I held out my hand.

“Why?” Gabrielle gave me a cautious look.

“Please. I am not going to pour salt in it or anything.” I smiled.

Gabrielle smirked and held out her hand letting me see her index finger.“Fine.”

“Sanare.”I said and touched it running my fingers over hers making the wound heal much to my surprise as a gold light came from my fingertips. I hadn't thought it was going to work really but I felt confident enough to try it since I wouldn't get another chance like this.

“Did you just? Did you do magic?” Gabrielle gave me a look and examined her finger touching where the prick had been.

“Yes. I found a book in the room. Truthfully I am surprised it worked.” I shrugged.

“So I get to be your test subject?” Gabrielle gave me a push and shook her head at me as she smiled.

“I can only try healing on someone who is hurt. It is not a practical magic to experiment with and I didn't want to give you the chance to say no.” I replied.

“Well, Thank you I guess.” Gabby smiled and gave me a playful kiss on the cheek as she leaned over. “You know any other spells yet?”

“Easing pain. It takes pain away, in theory anyways. Not like I have tried it.” I shrugged.

“That one seems practical. I will gladly let you try that one out.” Gabby shrugged.

“You have pain?” I smirked.

“In my feet every night at the end of the day.” Gabby nodded as she went back to her sewing stitching the deer skins together.

“Not sure that is what it is meant for.” I laughed.

“Did the book say specifically not for foot pain?” Gabby pointed out as she tied off the string and used the sheers to cut off the sinew.

“No but it didn't say for mundane use either. It cautioned that it should be used it sparingly actually for new mages.” I replied. I had no clue my limits. Healing her finger could be it for all I knew.

“Okay but if you change your mind let me know. Just don't say I didn't offer.” Gabby teased and went back to sewing. “You have to earn that extra mattress somehow.”

“Oh its like that is it.” I shook my head.

“Knock knock.” A voice said and I looked over to see an old family friend Marigold come in through the back with her baby on her hip though the little one was not so much a baby now as before the winter. Marigold was still as lovely as ever with her strawberry blonde woman flowing down her shoulders. She had worked here up till last year before getting pregnant. Her and Gareth had been bethroed once upon a time before he went off to fight in the war. She had even waited for him but after he came back injured he had pushed her away like an idiot. She had married Sam a farmer but I Gareth still cared for her. Despite that she was like part of the family to the rest of us having worked here for so many years.

“Marigold.” Gabby said and went over and hugged her. “So good to see you both. What are you doing here?” Gabby smiled.

“Sam had to get some things for the farmstead.” She smiled.

“Come her you little hobgolblin.” Gabby said as she stole little Sam and tickling him. “You are getting so big.”

“Hey you.” Marigold came over and gave me a hug and rubbed my back. I never admit it out loud but I always had a bit of a crush on her.

“Hey Marigold.” I said hugging her back. I couldn't help but enjoy the softness of her large breasts pressed against me. I swore they had doubled in size since she had little Sam.

“Please tell me you are coming back to work?” Gabby glanced up from tickling the baby as he made noises of delight.

“I wish but I do not see me doing anything with a baby on my hip suckling at my teat.” Marigold shook her head.

“Might help make you tips. They have gotten a lot bigger now.” Gabby gave a little shrug.

“Ah. You are so bad.” Marigold shook her head.

“Sorry is all this talk bothering you cousin.” Gabby glanced over at me and the ladies laughed.

“I am going to count the cellar now.” I shook my head at them both.

“You do that cutie.” Marigold tussled my hair and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She still treated me like a kid brother even if I was grown up now.

I went down counting barrels and cask in the cellar stopping for a second under the kitchen and listening in on the girls as they talked about breasts feeding and other baby stuff as my aunt joined them offering some advice on the baby teething by rubbing some **** on his teeth. As I glanced up I got an eyeful as Marigold was standing by the table leaned over it. I could see right up the skirt of her dress as I had a view of everything though not the best angle with her legs together as she stood. It was clear enough to admire her ass behind her as she leaned on her arms. Guilt got the better of me and I went back to what I was doing as their conversation turned to more mundane topics.

I rummaged through the lowest racks finding a couple of coppers that had fallen through the gaps in the barroom floor boards. It seemed today was my lucky day though a silver would have been even nicer. It took me awhile to get a full count as I wrote down numbers in the book with the thin charcoal stick. Down here really needed some organizing but stuff was mostly together. After I had finished the count I headed back up to see Marigold talking to mom was feeding the baby a biscuit trying to get him to chew on the soft inside part to ease his sore tooth though the little one was more trying to suck her finger then eat yet. Gabrielle was nowhere to be seen and had probably gone up to put the blankets she was sewing on the beds.

“Gabby tells me you think you are a mage.” Marigold teased.

“Wouldn't go that far. I have read two spells and have only done the first.” I frowned. The only other magic I had ever done was make a crystal glow a little.

“She told me about the finger. What is the other one?” My Aunt asked.

“Easing pain.” I shrugged.

“Well I have a patient write here for you healer.” My aunt looked at little Sam. “Unless you rather try the spell on Marigold. She is in pain as well.” My aunt teased and both women laughed.

“If you are sure?” I smiled. I had seen how loud babies could be when they were upset.

“Aunt Caris.” I blushed at the thought. “It requires me to actually touch the skin. I am sure Marigold does not want that.” I smirked.

“I wouldn't mind as long as this isn't some trick to feel me up like something Jon would pull. But if you are uncomfortable with it you can still try it on little Sam here.” Marigold shrugged. “I don't care if it is just for an hour that he stops fussing. He hasn't been eating like he should and my breasts are overflowing with milk to the point I can start selling it.” Marigold looked down at her bosom and gave her breasts a little squeeze through her dress.